Golf club head of compound material

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide a golf club head which comprises a first shell and a second shell. The first and the second shells are respectively molded from a compound material by hot die molding and fixedly fastened to each other. The first shell has a crown, a neck extended from said crown and having a hole receiving a bushing and a connecting tube for the mounting of a golf club shaft, and a face disposed at one side of said crown and adapted for hitting the ball. The second shell having a sole and a bottom panel fixedly fastened to an outer side of said sole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a golf club head, and more particularly to the golf club head made of compound material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional golf club heads of compound material are made by: covering a polyurethane foamed core with resin-coated fiber material, and then molding the resin-coated fiber material with the polyurethane foamed core into the desired shape by hot die molding. A golf club head made according to this method is heavy because it has a polyurethane foamed core in the interior. It is to be known that another conventional manufacturing method for the golf club head is extrusion molding. However, the golf club head made according to this method has large wall thickness in the heel and toe thereof than that of the other of the golf club head, thereby causing additional weight.

[0003] Taiwan Patent Publication No. 453886 discloses a compound golf club head fabrication method, which uses an inflated air bag instead of the aforesaid polyurethane foamed core. However, this fabrication method is complicated. Further, because the control of the inside air pressure of the air bag is difficult, it is not easy to control the wall thickness of the finished products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a golf club head, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide a golf club head, which is easy to manufacture.

[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head, which makes precision quality control easy.

[0006] To achieve these objects of the present invention, the golf club head comprises a first shell and a second shell. The first and the second shells are respectively molded from a compound material by hot die molding and fixedly fastened to each other. The first shell has a crown, a neck extended from said crown and having a hole receiving a bushing and a connecting tube for the mounting of a golf club shaft, and a face disposed at one side of said crown and adapted for hitting the ball. The second shell having a sole and a bottom panel fixedly fastened to an outer side of said sole. A weight may be fastened to the sole of the second shell to lower the center of gravity of the golf club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a golf club head constructed according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the golf club head of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention assembled.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf club head according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the golf club head according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention when taken in another direction.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a golf club head constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a golf club head constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a golf club head constructed according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring to FIGS. from 1 through 4, a golf club head 1 is shown in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprised of a first shell 10 and a second shell 20.

[0015] The first shell 10 has a substantially L-shaped profile, comprising a crown 101, a neck 102, and a face 103. The neck 102 is shaped like a stub tube disposed at one side of the crown 101, defining an axially extended through hole 12. A metal bushing 14 is fixedly mounted in the axially extended through hole 12 of the neck 102. A metal connecting tube 15 is fixedly fastened to one end, namely, the inner end of the metal bushing 14 for the installation of a golf club shaft (not shown). The face 103 is disposed at one side of the crown 101 adjacent to the neck 102, comprising a face panel 13 made of titanium, steel, or precision ceramics. The face panel 13 is the area to hit the ball, having grooves 131.

[0016] The second shell 20 has a substantially U-shaped profile, comprising a sole 201, a heel 202, and a toe 203. The sole 201 has its outer side fixedly mounted with a metal bottom panel 21.

[0017] The first shell 10 and the second shell 20 are respectively made of resin-predipped BMC (bulk molding compound) by hot die molding. The face panel 13, the metal bushing 14, and the metal bottom panel 21 are set in the molding die before molding of BMC. After molding, face panel 13, the metal bushing 14, and the metal bottom panel 21 are fixedly fastened to the first and second shells 10 and 20 in the set positions. Alternatively, the first shell 10 and the second shell 20 can be made of the mixture of the resin-predipped BMC (bulk molding compound) and SMC (sheet molding compound) by hot die molding.

[0018] The metal connecting tube 15 reinforces the connection of the golf club shaft to the club head 1. Due to position limitation, it is not practical to let the metal connecting tube 15 be formed with the first shell 10 during hot die molding. Therefore, the metal connecting tube 15 is fixedly fastened to the inner end of the metal bushing 14 after the formation of the first shell 10. The metal connecting tube 15 can be made having one end fixedly connected to the metal bushing 14 and the other end connected to the second shell 20.

[0019] The first shell 10 and the second shell 20 have a respective trapezoidal coupling edge abutted against each other. Bonding resin or BMC is applied to the respective trapezoidal coupling edges of the first and second shells 10 and 20, and then hot set to fixedly secure the first shell 10 and the second shell 20 together.

[0020] Because the first shell 10 and the second shell 20 are respectively made of BMC by hot die molding, high precision quality control is achievable. Therefore, the invention eliminates the problem of material defect due to irregular wall thickness. Further, the invention greatly simplifies the fabrication of a golf club head. Except the metal connecting tube 15, the other parts of the golf club head can be made through one single processing procedure to reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0021]FIG. 5 shows a golf club head constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the golf club head 2 is comprised of a first shell 31 and a second shell 32. The first shell 31 and the second shell 32 are respectively made of resin-predipped BMC by hot die molding, and then fixedly fastened to each other. However, the first shell 31 and the second shell 32 have respective protruding coupling flanges 332, 342 and respective coupling grooves 331, 341 for mounting. By means of engaging respective protruding coupling flanges 332, 342 into respective coupling grooves 331, 341, the connection between the first shell 31 and the second shell 32 is reinforced. The engagement between the coupling groove 331 at the face 311 of the first shell 31 and the protruding coupling flange 332 at the sole 321 of the second shell 32 (the right lower side of FIG. 5) provides a resisting force to the first shell 31 and the second shell 32 in vertical direction. The coupling groove 341 at the crown 312 of the first shell 31 and the protruding coupling flange 342 at the heel 322 of the second shell 32 provides a resisting force to the first shell 31 and the second shell 32 in horizontal direction. Alternatively, the relative locations of the protruding coupling flanges 331, 341 and the coupling grooves 332, 342 may be exchanged.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a golf club head constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the golf club head 3 is comprised of a first shell 41 and a second shell 42. The first shell 41 and the second shell 42 are respectively made of resin-predipped BMC by hot die molding, and then fixedly fastened to each other. However, the first shell 41 has a face panel 44 embedded in the face 43 thereof. The face 43 has grooves 431 in the outer surface. The face panel 44 is put in the hot die before molding of the first shell 41. After molding of the first shell 41, the face panel 44 is embedded in the face 43. Alternatively, the face panel 44 can be fixedly fastened to the inner surface of the face 43.

[0023]FIG. 7 shows a golf club head constructed according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the sole 52 of the second shell 51 of the golf club head 4 is fixedly mounted with at least one weight 53 so that the center of gravity of the golf club head is adjusted downwards backwards. Further, the face 55 of the first shell 54 eliminates the aforesaid face panel, and grooves 551 are directly engraved in the outer surface of the face 55 of the first shell 54 after formation of the first shell 54. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club head comprising a first shell and a second shell respectively molded from a compound material by hot die molding and fixedly fastened to each other, said first shell having a crown, a neck extended from said crown and having a hole for the mounting of a golf club shaft, and a face disposed at one side of said crown and adapted for hitting the ball, said second shell having a sole and a bottom panel fixedly fastened to an outer side of said sole.
 2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell comprises a face panel fixedly fastened to an outer side of said face.
 3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell comprises a face panel embedded in said face.
 4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell comprises a face panel fixedly fastened to an inner side of said face.
 5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell is fixedly fastened to said second shell by means of a bonding agent.
 6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one protruding coupling flange and at least one coupling groove respectively fastened to said at least one protruding coupling flange are formed at the coupling area of said first shell and said second shell.
 7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second shell comprises at least one weighted plate fixedly fastened to said sole.
 8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell comprises a bushing fixedly mounted in the hole of said neck.
 9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first shell further comprises a connecting tube fixedly fastened to one end of said bushing inside said first shell. 